8.5 Management As with the physical examination, repeated blood tests according to the patient’s clinical course might be of great diagnostic value during the acute stage of the disease Mild anemia is common, while severe anemia indicates rupture and bleeding Hemolysis with elevated bilirubin or lactic acid concentrations can also be found A leukocytosis with a count of 10,000–15,000 is common Blood gases might reveal a metabolic acidosis due to anaerobic metabolism in ischemic tissue Urinary tests showing hematuria indicates renal involvement A plain chest x-ray in standard anteroposterior and lateral projections is rarely diagnostic, but the following findings indicates the presence of aortic dissection: Abnormal shadow adjacent to the descending thoracic aorta Deformity of the aortic knob Density adjacent to the brachiocephalic trunk Enlarged cardiac shadow Displaced esophagus, trachea, or bronchus Abnormal mediastinum Irregular aortic contour Loss of sharpness of the aortic shadow Pleural effusion Expanded aortic diameter Helical CT is accurate for determining the presence of an aortic dissection and provides information for classification The identification of an intimal tear is, however, difficult and motion artifacts of the ascending aorta are sometimes misinterpreted as dissection MRI is highly accurate and gives valuable information about the pathoanatomy Unfortunately it cannot be performed in hemodynamically unstable patients who are on ventilator support TEE (Transesophageal echocardiography) is often considered as one of the most valuable diagnostic tools, making it possible to determine the type and extent of the aortic dissection, especially distally It has limitations in visualization of the distal ascending aorta and the arch TTE (Transthoracic echocardiography) is, on the other hand, superior for evaluating involvement of the proximal part of the descending aorta in the dissection Together, TEE and TTE yield a sensitivity and specificity approaching 100% for diagnosing dissection and are thus probably the best – but unfor- tunately often not available – diagnostic modalities Aortography is the old gold standard and is highly accurate in diagnosing aortic dissection, but it can fail to recognize a thrombosed false lumen It also provides better information than CT or MRI about the condition and involvement of the aortic branches Furthermore, aortography can be combined with therapeutic endovascular management However, the modern CT scanners with up to 64 detectors can produce extremely detailed images and, when available, should be the first imaging study after the chest x-ray 8.5 Management 8.5.1 Treatment in the Emergency Department As soon as aortic dissection is clinically suspected, aggressive medical treatment must be started immediately The goals are to (1) stabilize dissection, (2) prevent rupture, and (3) prevent organ ischemia These goals can be achieved by diminishing the stress on the aortic wall Consequently, the therapeutic cornerstone is to reduce blood pressure in order to minimize the force of the left ventricular ejection (dP/dT) The reduction in blood pressure must, however, be balanced against what is needed for adequate cerebral, coronary, renal, and visceral perfusion A useful guideline is that the systolic arterial blood pressure should be kept around 100–110 mmHg and mean arterial pressure between 60 and 75 mmHg, provided that urinary output and neurology are unaffected In the emergency department the following measures can be employed: Insert one or two large-bore intravenous (IV) lines for administering antihypertensive drugs and fluids Obtain an ECG Order blood tests as stated above Obtain a plain chest x-ray Administer oxygen by mask Consider injection of a strong analgesic IV, such as morphine 5–10-mg Insert an arterial catheter for blood pressure monitoring 97 98 Chapter 8 Start administration of a beta-blocker as described below The recommended agents for medical management of acute aortic dissection are direct vasodilators, beta-blockers, nitroglycerin and calcium channel blockers if beta blockers cannot be used Beta-blockers orally are recommended for all patients Contraindications for beta-blockers are heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, atrioventricular blocks, and bronchospastic disease Suggested emergency medical treatment (local variations in drug choices are of course common) is as follows: Start propranolol treatment, mg IV, every 3–5 until achieving a systolic blood pressure around 100 mmHg and a heart rate of 60–80 beats/ (maximum dose, up to 0.15 mg/kg) Continue thereafter with 2–6 mg IV every 4–6 h In patients with severe hypertension an IV infusion of nitroglycerin is started and the dose titrated after blood pressure and heart rate NOTE The main objective of the medical treatment is to lower the blood pressure to a level of 100–110 mmHg It is mandatory to check the patient for the development of new complications of the dissection during medical treatment 8.5.2 Emergency Surgery Emergency surgery should be considered in type A dissections involving the intrapericardial ascending aorta and the aortic arch A distal type B dissection with retrograde dissection involving the aortic arch is also a case for acute operation A double aortic lumen in the pericardial portion of the ascending aorta is an absolute indication for emergency operation Depending on the patient’s general condition prior to the dissection there are, as usual, exceptions from these basic rules Contraindications include very advanced age and severe debilitating or terminal illnesses Surgical repair of the condition requires thoracic surgical expertise and includes replacing the ascending aorta and resecting the primary intimal tear The operation involves cardiopulmonary by Aortic Dissection pass In type A dissection with persistent organ ischemia despite open surgical repair and replacement of the ascending aorta, endovascular treatment of the rest of the dissection is often a successful complement 8.5.3 Type B dissection The management of acute distal aortic dissection is initially always medical because this results in lower morbidity and mortality than emergent surgical repair Consequently, the continued regimen for these patients follows the previously given recommendations regarding beta blockade and vasodilators started in the emergency department The medical treatment must be combined with careful observation for complications Surgical or endovascular intervention should be considered for the following situations: Aortic rupture Increasing periaortic or intrapleural fluid (suggesting aneurysmal leakage) Rapidly expanding aortic diameter Uncontrolled hypertension Persistent pain despite adequate medical therapy Organ malperfusion – ischemia of brain, spinal cord, abdominal viscera, or limbs The goal of surgical repair in a type B dissection is, as with all other treatment options, to prevent rupture and restore visceral and limb perfusion Because a common site of rupture is associated with the site of primary dissection, at least the upper half of the descending thoracic aorta needs to be replaced in most cases Graft replacement in the acute setting should be limited and replacement of the entire thoracic aorta avoided if possible An abdominal fenestration procedure is sometimes necessary to restore flow to the lower extremities Extraanatomical by pass is another possible way to reestablish flow to the legs 8.5.4 Endovascular Treatment In patients with peripheral vascular complications due to extension of the dissection into a branch, causing compression and obstruction of its true 8.6 Results and Outcome a lumen, as well as in patients with central aortic true lumen collapse, the endovascular option should be considered Provided, of course, that the institution has technically skilled physicians, the necessary equipment and back-up support It is possible to create a fenestration through the intimal flap from the false into the true lumen with endovascular techniques As shown in Fig 8.2 a, stenting of the entry site to occlude flow into the false lumen will probably be successful in restoring flow into a branch with its orifice obstructed by the false lumen and the dissection membrane If there is an avulsion of the intima of that branch as in Fig 8.2 b, this is not an option Endovascular management is developing as an attractive alternative to surgical repair Patients with an acute type B dissection who are not good candidates for surgery can be considered for endovascular management Stenting has also been reported to give successful results in aortic collapse with severe ischemia of the lower part of the body An endovascular approach can also be used as the initial treatment by performing aortic fenestration and stenting Most centers prefer to delay either surgical or endovascular repair until after the patient has recovered from the acute phase of malperfusion, whereas others advocate early prophylactic stenting and coverage of the intimal tear to occlude the false lumen and prevent further dissection (Fig 8.4) 8.6 Results and Outcome b Fig 8.4 a Computed tomography showing a type B dissection and its entry in the first part of the descending aorta in a patient with a previous reconstruction of the arch and the brachiocephalic trunk after a type A dissection The true anterior aortic lumen is severely compressed causing obstruction of the main visceral branches and leading to visceral ischemia b Flow into the true aortic lumen and all branches is restored after deploying a covered stent over the entry site in the descending aorta A recent article from 12 international centers covering 464 patients with aortic dissection reported, in-hospital mortality rates for type-A dissections treated surgically of 28%, and medically of 58% The corresponding figures for type B were 31% and 10%, respectively Successful closure of the intimal tear with endovascular stent grafts and subsequent thrombosis of the false lumen is reported in up to 75% of patients Branch occlusions with ischemic symptoms were relieved in 75–95% of the cases Survival after 30 days was 75–85 %, and long-term results are good, with 6 h, and injuries treated in patients in shock have a much higher amputation rate, the results may be less pessimistic than the results in the literature For multitrauma patients outcomes of vascular injury in the leg are hard to come by TECHNICAL TIPS Fasciotomy of the Calf Compartments (Two Incisions) Medial Incision A 15–20-cm-long skin incision, starting slightly below the midpoint of the calf and downwards parallel to and 2–3 cm dorsally of the medial border of the tibia, is used to decompress the deep and superficial posterior muscle compartments (Fig 9.8) It is important to avoid injury to the great saphenous vein Sharp division of skin and subcutaneous fat reaches the fascia The skin and subcutaneous fat is mobilized en bloc anteriorly and posteriorly to expose it enough to provide access to the compartments The fascia is then opened in a proximal direction and distally down toward the malleolus under the soleus muscle At this level, the soleus muscle has no attachments to the tibia, and the deep posterior compartment is more superficial and easier to access Through the same skin incision, the fascia of the superficial posterior muscle compartment is cleaved 2–3 cm dorsally and parallel to the former A long straight pair of scissors with blunt points is used to cut the fascia using a distinct continuous movement in the distal direction, down to a level of cm above the malleoli and proximally along the entire fascia Fig 9.8 Incision and exposure for fasciotomy of posterior compartments The posterior dotted line indicates fasciotomy incision for the superficial compartment and the anterior dotted line for the deep compartment 9.7 Fasciotomy When the compartment pressure is clearly increased or when there is a risk of developing increased pressure, fasciotomy of muscular compartments distal to a vascular injury should be performed in association with the vascular repair Factors suggesting an increased pressure are listed in Table 9.4 The technique for decompression of the four compartments in the lower leg is described in the Technical Tips box 115 116 Chapter Vascular Injuries in the Leg TECHNICAL TIPS Fasciotomy of the Calf Compartments (Two Incisions) (continued) Lateral Incision The skin incision for fasciotomy of the lateral and anterior muscle compartments is oriented anterior to and in parallel with the fibula The dorsal position of the lateral compartment, however, often requires more extensive mobilization of the subcutaneous fat to reach it The superficial peroneal nerve is located anteriorly under the fascia and exits the compartment through the anterior aspect of the fascia distally in the calf To preserve this nerve, direct the scissors dorsally when making the fasciotomy in both directions (See Fig 9.9.) Unless the swelling is very extensive, 2-0 prolene intradermal suture is loosely placed to enable wound closure later (Fig 9.10) It is important to leave long suture ends at both sides to allow wound edge separation the first postoperative days The skin incisions are left open with moist dressings Fig 9.9 Incision for fasciotomy of anterior and lateral compartments Through the demonstrated skin incision, long incisions are made along the dotted lines in the fascia Caution must be taken with the peroneal nerve Fig 9.10 Cross-section demonstrating the principles for decompression of all four muscle compartments in the calf through a medial and a lateral incision The location of major nerve bundles in the different compartments is indicated ... number of endovascular procedures, iatrogenic injuries have also become an increasing part of vascular trauma Vascular injuries may cause life-threatening major bleeding, but distal ischemia is more... obvious vascular injuries to the leg vessels, more careful vascular assessment takes place after the secondary survey If the vascular injury is one of many in a multitrauma patient, general trauma... nitroglycerin and calcium channel blockers if beta blockers cannot be used Beta-blockers orally are recommended for all patients Contraindications for beta-blockers are heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, atrioventricular